Container



Nov. 23, 1937. I. FLORMAN 2,099,805

CONTAINER Original Filed Nov. 16, 1934 8%, RMD-LQQZQ:

Irv/27: F/orman Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER Irving Florman, New York, N. Y.

4 Claims.

My invention relates to containers and more particularly to containers of the pocket type especially, but not necessarily, adapted for holding cosmetic materials such as face powder.

This application is a. division of my co -pending application S. N. 753,396, filed November 16, 1934 granted Jan. 29, 1935, Patent No. 1,989,590.

One object of my invention is to provide a container of this type which is easy to operate and convenient in use.

A further object is toprovide a container which is substantially sealed in closed position, so as to prevent the escape of powder or other granular materials from the container, while avoiding the use of tight fitting covers or latches such as are usually necessary for this purpose. More particularly, I provide a device which will prevent powder, loose tobacco or the like from escaping into the pocket or pocketbook of the user when the container is closed.

Another feature of the invention, and one which makes it particularly suitable for use as a compact, is the fact that the procedure necessary for opening or closing the container imparts a series of vibrations which will agitate the powder and cause it to assume the flat form which it should have when it is to be used.

Further objects and advantages will appear more fully from the following description particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my container in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device in open position.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

The container comprises in general a thin casing of substantially rectangular shape, having a fiat bottom wall 2 and substantially flat side wall members 4. The end walls 6 are curved, being preferably substantially semi-circular in cross section. The top of the container has an opening 8, this opening preferably extending across the whole space between the upper edges ID of the end walls 6. The side walls are composed of inner members l2 preferably secured rigidly to the edges of the bottom wall 2, which form the wall of the chamber, a spacing block l4, and an outer casing member "5, these three parts being secured together by rivets I8. The members l6 are preferably of slightly greater dimensions than, and form a flange around the inner members l2, and the edges of the members [6 are bent inwardly as at H), thus forming a continuous inwardly directed groove 20 around the whole of the container. 5

The open top of the container may be closed by means of a cover 22 hinged at 24 along the upper edge of one of the end walls, and normally held in elevated or open position by a spring 26. The inner face of this cover is provided with a suitable reflecting surface, as for instance a mirror 28. It is obvious that when the cover is open the mirror can be used to aid inthe application of the powder.

In order to hold the cover in closed position when the device is not in use, and to prevent the escape of granular materials from the container, 1 provide a shutter or flexible member composed of a plurality of narrow strips of hard plastic material arranged in close side by side relation on a sheet 32 of flexible material such as cloth. The length of these strips is substantially equal to the distance between the outer side wall members I5, and the ends of the strips comprise reduced portions 34 which extend into the grooves 20, and are guided and held thereby. The main body portions of the strips 30 are of such thickness as to extend a slight distance above the flanges IS.

The total length of the shutter member is greater than the width of the opening 8, but is not more than the combined length of the bottom wall 2 and end walls 6.

Assuming that the device is in the closed position such as shown in Fig. 1, and. that it is desired to open the same, the shutter is moved by hand to the position shown in Fig. 3. The grooves 20 cause the shutter to follow the outline of the container at all times and to pass around the curved ends to the bottom side thereof. As soon as the shutter uncovers the cover 22, spring 26 will raise the cover to open position. The mirror can then be used and the contents of the container are available.

To close the device, the cover is depressed by hand and the shutter is then pushed around by hand until it again assumes the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position, it quite evidently prevents the cover from rising. At the same time, the cover fits tightly enough to hold any loose powder or other loose granular material within the package and thereby keeps such material from falling into the space in which it is carried by the user.

With the container, I may provide a powder holder 36, comprising a frame of flexible material which fits tightly within the casing and carries a closure sheet of gauze of the usual type. A puif or applicator 38 may be contained in the space above the shield, sothat the device is a complete arrangement for powdering the face.

While I have described my container as particularly applicable to compacts or containers for cosmetics, it is quite obvious that it may be used for other purposes within the scope of the invention. I therefore wish it to be clearly understood that the description and drawing of the embodiment disclosed are intended to be merely an example of the invention, and that I do not intend to be limited thereby except within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container comprising a bottom wall, side walls, and end walls, said container having an opening in its top, a cover hinged along one edge of said opening fitting within and substantially closing the opening, spring means normally urging said cover to swing to open position, a unitary flexible closure member of greater length than the length of said cover, and endless means on said container for guiding said closure member to slide from one position in which it overlies said cover to another position in which said cover is free for movement to open position and for guiding said closure member for continuous and reciprocatory movement along its entire outer edges.

2. A container comprising a bottom wall, side walls, and end walls, said container having an opening in its top, a cover hinged along one edge of said opening fitting within and substantially closing the opening, spring means normally urging said cover to swing to open position, a unitary flexible closure member of greater length than the length of said cover, and endless means on said container for guiding said closure member to slide over the outer surface of said bottom and end walls and said cover from one position in which it overlies said cover to another position in which said cover is free for movement to open position.

3. A container comprising a bottom wall, side walls, and rounded end walls, said container having an opening in its top, a cover hinged along one edge of said opening fitting within and substan tially closing the opening, spring means normally 5 urging said cover to swing to open position, flanged portions secured to said side walls and extending beyond the side and bottom walls and the place occupied by the cover when in closed position, said flanged portions forming endless 10 grooves with said side and end wall in their opposed faces, and a unitary flexible closure member of greater length than the length of said cover but'not of greater length than the combined length of the bottom and side walls, said 15 closure member having portions slidably guided in said grooves whereby said closure member is guided to slide over the outer surface of said bottom and end walls and said cover from one position in which it overlies said cover toanother position in which said cover is free for movement to open position.

4. A container comprising a bottom wall, substantially flat side walls, and rounded end walls, a cover hinged along the upper edge of one of said 25 end walls fitting within and substantially closing the space between the upper edges of the end walls, spring means normally urging said cover to swing to open position, flanged portions secured to said side walls and extending beyond the side and bottom walls and the place occupied by the cover when in closed position, said flanged portions forming endless grooves with said side and end walls in their opposed faces, and a unitary closure member of greater length than the length 35 of said cover but not of greater length than the combined length of the bottom and side walls, said closure member comprising a plurality of rigid elements extending in a direction parallel to the hinge of the cover and having portions extending within said grooves and guided thereby, and a sheet of flexible material beneath said elements, said elements being secured to said sheet in closely adjacent relation.

IRVING FLORMAN. 

